I decided to challenge myself to translate Accidental Biography by Wang Leehom because I was bored and he is someone I admire. One really would not understand the difficulties of translation until one starts to translate materials that came from a third-party source.

It is really different from the situation where I merrily decides to write my personal blog in the two only languages I know. When I was writing my own blog in two languages, I was clear about what I wanted to say, the ideas I wanted to present. Hence, I have the liberty of expression and of course, the liberal use of puns/metaphors/etc.

However, when one is reading and translating a book, I am aware of the fact that I am actually translating someone’s ideas, someone’s words. Any inaccuracies would mean that I am guilty of being a gossipmonger, or a troublemaker who twists other people’s words/ideas.

So far, I have translated some parts from the start of the book and a few pages from the back of the book. I have to say that the starting pages were straightforward before getting trickier and trickier. Language started to get more colourful. The more colourful the language is, the more difficult is the translation, I would say. It is really a specialisation that requires many years to training and experience. It is not a matter of grasping the ideas but also trying to capture the character of the person.

I decided to challenge myself to translate Accidental Biography by Wang Leehom because I was bored and he is someone I admire. One really would not understand the difficulties of translation until one starts to translate materials that came from a third-party source.

It is really different from the situation where I merrily decides to write my personal blog in the two only languages I know. When I was writing my own blog in two languages, I was clear about what I wanted to say, the ideas I wanted to present. Hence, I have the liberty of expression and of course, the liberal use of puns/metaphors/etc.

However, when one is reading and translating a book, I am aware of the fact that I am actually translating someone’s ideas, someone’s words. Any inaccuracies would mean that I am guilty of being a gossipmonger, or a troublemaker who twists other people’s words/ideas.

So far, I have translated some parts from the start of the book and a few pages from the back of the book. I have to say that the starting pages were straightforward before getting trickier and trickier. Language started to get more colourful. The more colourful the language is, the more difficult is the translation, I would say. It is really a specialisation that requires many years to training and experience. It is not a matter of grasping the ideas but also trying to capture the character of the person.

Late night with Yoyo Ma’s soulful rendition of Bach’s Cello Suites. I like such peaceful environment.

When I was in a meeting discussing about this song, I heard a very interesting theory.

A colleague had said that Wang Leehom’s most saleable works are all released in summer. That is, the months of June, July and August. Because the consumers like to see the sunshine-boy Wang Leehom in summer.

I think this is very interesting because I have never thought about this scenario before. Hence, everyone chose this as the main hitsong.

I think the general feel of this song is very good. The solo parts sounds very convincing too. Perhaps, it is the feeling of summer.

Just to let you into a secret. Actually I like the music style of Crying Palms most. Perhaps one day, I might just a chance to try: What would be the impression of Leehom be like if albums are not released in summer?

Accidental Biography, Page 137.

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This was done purely for fun, joy and laughter with no intention of infringing any copyrights. If its presence is unwelcome, kindly contact me before deciding whether you want to sue my tattered pants off. Thanks!
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Codebook is available here. The book referenced is, of course, Accidental Biography of Leehom Wang. I am not trying to act mysterious or be funny with you all. The reason for this beating-about-the-book way of sharing with a Da Vinci Code style subplot is merely because I do not want the project I started for fun, joy and laughter to be an issue of no-fun, no-joy and no-laughter to the publisher, co-author or Mr Wang himself. Please understand.

I would prefer that you, who would soon be spending precious time doing silly things with the ruler and a particular book in white:

be selfish about those codes that you had solved and not disseminate them freely.

do not replicate my translated posts onto any website/emails/hardcopies/etc.

To tempt those who had not bought the book, Pages 137 to 139 (which is about 2% of that excellent book) are free access posts whereas the rest would be password-based access.

Guide to code-breaking… My style
For a particular title that you want to access, read the Password hint, eg Page 121, top-down 14cm, right-left 10.7cm. This means you are supposed to go to Page 121, use your ruler to measure from the top of book down 14 cm and then from the right heading towards the left 10.7cm. The two measurements are supposed to hold the protection password on crosshair. You can check the word you found into the code check column of the Excel spreadsheet to check before entering it onto my blog.

Disclaimer… to cover my sorry derriere
Because I am a blur boozoo, there is a high chance that some of the Password hint might have inaccuracies. If a particular code is jeering you for being able to solve it successfully, please contact me so that I could cross check them again for accuracies. However, I am not responsible for the many strands of hair you have pulled out in frustration.

As I am not a professional translator, there are bound to be inaccuracies. If you spot any spelling mistakes or have better suggestions, feel free to leave a comment on that specific post for me to argue about it discuss and act on it.

Dinner at NYDC. I love their Hawaiian pizza, piping hot from the oven. And dining alone meant reading a book. How else could I enjoy my dinner??

This is one of my favourite works. It is also a sharing of a personal experience.

Everything in this song is like a dream. I dreamt of this melody and when I woke up, I sat on the work table beside my bed and starting composing this work.

I know this is a good song because it did not undergo any designing. It came from my dreams. I feel that that is the most precious declaration that came from the soul in everyone.

That night, I entered the recording studio to record this song. I hummed a phrase to myself and in my heart, the English lyrics simply appeared. As I record, I finished the English lyrics of this song. Happy and deeply emotionally penetrating…

Accidental Biography, Page 137.

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This was done purely for fun, joy and laughter with no intention of infringing any copyrights. If its presence is unwelcome, kindly contact me before deciding whether you want to sue my tattered pants off. Thanks!
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Thirty minutes to go before I go for my next appointment. Let’s see how much I can go. This thing is addictive.

This is the daunting album that I have worked on. I decided to take up the challenge of producing, writing and arranging the entire album. When I decide to take up the whole production of the album by myself, I am already mentally prepared that the route ahead would be difficult.

That was also my lonelinest album.

In order to concentrate and for convenience’s sake, I had rented an apartment near the recording studios in America. But perhaps my energy level had not allowed me to take care of myself in the daily living… I did not even have the time to buy a bed for myself. For those few months, I slept on the floor. Meals were taken at the MacDonald’s at the corner of the street or sometimes, to save time, I simply had cornflakes with milk at home… My whole mind was on how to solve those problems of the album production. I had to do everything myself, from equipment problems, all kinds of software books for reading, how to reconnect wires gone loose, asking around the stores how should one resolve harddisk problems,… and of course, those conceptual and creativity problems, I could only discuss it with myself. I could only self check. Everything was steel production with the traditional method – through hard work. Because this is a self challenge and I must complete it.

I had at last understood the meaning of obsession.

As a result, my health detoriorated. But I couldn’t care less. I thought of how all the other musicians had suffered for their art too. I saw myself in the mirror when I was showering, those sunken cheeks, unshaven stubs, I was like a tortured soul, but my eyes were still full of sparkle.

This album was done at the expense of the almost-total collapse of my health.

After this experience, I thought when I took up such a big challenge again, I would be able to better prepared in time and health first.

Because I had this experience, I know I have to be clear of the main direction and not be bogged down by the little details. To have the energies and efficiency to carry out the various tasks and more importantly, take care of myself. If I had collapse upon the completion of the album, I would not have the chance or energy to step out to share my hard work with everybody,

This is a song that I had learnt a lot while producing. When I handed over this song, I had, at the same time, became very clear about my future music style.

Page 138.

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This was done purely for fun, joy and laughter with no intention of infringing any copyrights. If its presence is unwelcome, kindly contact me before deciding whether you want to sue my tattered pants off. Thanks!
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This is not the main hit songs in the summer release. However, the company said that this is a work that had set a new heights in sales.I thought about this question: perhaps that is the power of being mass-market.I work hard frequently to infuse new musical ideas into my music. Because this is my requirement I hold up to myself and my music, sometimes to the strictest order.The popularity of this work made me thought of the issue of “communication media”. Perhaps, what the market hoped for is a simple starting. I am referring to the introduction of the main hit song before letting them get into the mood of the album, discovering the other songs in the album that might carry a little more musical weight and influences.

This train of thought I had was due largely to this incident that happened in Urumuqi…

That is a place that I had never thought of. However, I actually held a concert there. That is already a very special fate.

And I met a teenager. She was very touched when she told me that because of this song, something very special and unforgettable had happened to her. That story later ended. However, this song did not disappear. She had used it for comfort. With that, that story and this song combined into one, leaving her with unforgettable memories.

I was touched by what she described… I am willing to compose that form of music. If a popular feeling could to touch so many lives and bring so much comfort, then I am willing to do it.

Now, whenever I sing Only One (??), I would think of that story.

Accidental Biography, Page 139.

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This was done purely for fun, joy and laughter with no intention of infringing any copyrights. If its presence is unwelcome, kindly contact me before deciding whether you want to sue my tattered pants off. Thanks!
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To put it simply, it is a case of “loneliness upon waking up”.I used a method that I had never used before to sing this song. Early morning, when I had stepped into the recording studio, I used my yet-to-awake voice to sing the whole song.This is a song I sang for myself. I presented what was originally a very personal voice and emotions. As I was singing, I felt uneasy. I told myself, in this world, there should be many people out there who are feeling just like how I felt at this particular moment.I really want to thank the lyricist of this song, Li Zhuo Xiong. He is also a good partner in the company who had given me many directions and comments in production. My original English lyrics were skimpy. It was him who had captured the emotions and deep feelings of the song in the Chinese lyrics.Aftermath, when I heard many stories of people who were touched by this song, I found it difficult to say anything else.Because I understood that feeling. It was the very same feeling I had when I was recording this song in the recording studio, where I was personally stirred by the emotions of memories.

Accidental Biography, Page 139

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This was done purely for fun, joy and laughter with no intention of infringing any copyrights. If its presence is unwelcome, kindly contact me before deciding whether you want to sue my tattered pants off. Thanks!
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It is in English, Page 141 of Accidental Biography. Please read from the book.

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This was done purely for fun, joy and laughter with no intention of infringing any copyrights. If its presence is unwelcome, kindly contact me before deciding whether you want to sue my tattered pants off. Thanks!
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